Psalm 23:1-6, ESV
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 23:1-6, JN paraphrase
Almost certainly the best known of the Psalms of David. This short poem lilts for the very beginning. The open phrase, “The LORD is my shepherd” demands to be followed by “I shall not want.” David continues to invoke green pastures, still waters, restoration, paths of righteousness, I am devoid of fear, for the rod and staff of the LORD, God, the Almighty. All this to be demonstrated before my most virulent enemies.

Surely, I have nothing more to add but, “ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Hallelujah, praise my Savior.

Recommended Reading

The Doctrine of Belief: A Proposal to the Church on How to Practice Believing in God by A. C. Winter. YUP, it’s a winner. I’m about 3 pages into “Believing Defined”, Chapter 2 and finding the footnotes to be as instructive as the main copy. But confession time, I didn’t make any progress in my self-assigned studies. Tonight’s time has to be focused on JI Packer’s Knowing God in preparation for our study of this text.